Victoria Finlayson

Adjunct Instructor, Theatre Arts

Victoria Finlayson began studying classical ballet at the age of eight. She continued her studies until she went to college, where she switched her focus to modern dance, while earning a B.A. in Chemistry; upon graduating she moved to New York and within the year joined the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. She toured and performed with the company for the next eight years, throughout the U.S., Europe, South America and Asia. She originated numerous parts in Cunningham’s work during the 80’s and early 90’s; participated in revivals of earlier work; appeared in three of Cunningham’s dance films; and in 1989 was awarded a New York Dance and Performance Award (”Bessie”) for her performances with the company. In 1992 Finlayson moved to Santa Barbara and joined the Lit Moon Theatre Company, a collaborative movement theatre ensemble with which she continues to work. She earned an M.A. in Theatre from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1996. In 1998, she began choreographing for the Westmont dance ensemble, and in 1999 joined the faculty as an adjunct professor. Finlayson teaches the advanced modern and ballet technique classes and continues to choreograph for student dance and theatre productions; she has also choreographed dances for the Lit Moon Theatre Company, Great Globe Players, and for the British Pantomime.